Arnecia Rose found guilty of Feb. 2023 purse snatching robberies in Inverness

State Atorney's Office, Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Marion, Lake, Citrus, Sumter and Hernando counties

Citrus County, Florida - On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, Citrus County jurors found 21 year-old Arnecia Jazzell Rose, of Lady Lake, Florida, guilty of all charges related to two attempted purse snatching robberies that occurred in Inverness, Florida on February 2 and 3, 2023. Rose was charged with battery of a law enforcement officer, aggravated fleeing to elude law enforcement officers, principal to attempted robbery, and conspiracy to commit robbery.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Kevin Davis and Kaitlyn Mannis.

The attempted purse snatching incidents occurred at the Beall's department store on February 2, and the Walmart Supercenter on February 3.

Rose and her three female roommates drove from Lady Lake to Citrus County with the intention to commit purse snatching robberies.

In the incident that occurred at the Beall's department store parking lot on February 2, one of the four women attempted to snatch a purse from a store patron which resulted in a physical struggle that caused the victim to fall and a shopping cart to tip over.

On February 3, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Communications Center was notified of an incident at the Walmart store, and deputies were routed there. Deputies quickly located the four suspects leaving the Walmart store in a dark gray Kia Optima. Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the gray Kia, driven by Rose, but she fled from deputies, heading east on State Road 44 (locally known as East Gulf to Lake Highway).

At one point, Rose backed up recklessly in a parking lot, causing the Kia to strike a CCSO patrol vehicle and a citizen’s vehicle. The pursuit continued, with the Kia traveling east on State Road 44, then north onto North Independence Highway, where the Kia crashed into a tree near East Beck Street (see photo of the crashed Kia), rendering it immobile. All four occupants ran from the wrecked vehicle, but were promptly taken into custody by deputies.

"I commend the swift and decisive actions of the responding deputies and major crimes detectives involved in bringing Rose to justice," said Bill Gladson, Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney. "Their dedication to upholding the law and ensuring public safety reflects the highest standards of law enforcement professionalism."